Electric hose-coupling.



Patented Sept. I6, |902.

No. 70mm.I

M. C. GOODWIN.

Gm N) L2. Pw u1 02.. om. EJ wd um. cm. ln Rm Tia..` cu. E@ L E (No Model.)

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MANSON O. GOODWIN, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

ELECTRIC HOSE-jCOUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,216, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed January 2,1902. Serial No. 88,174. (No model.)

land, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Hose-Couplings; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchlas will enable others skilled in the art to which same. l 4 Y My invention relates to improvements in electric hose-couplings, and is especially designed to provide a simple and effective coupling for hydraulic hose,and especially for that class of hydraulic hose known as fire-hose and through which electric currents for the purpose of signaling are designed to be transmitted. In couplings of this sort as previously constructed the difticulty has been in constructing a coupling in which the current will not be grounded by means of water either running through the hoseor the couplings coming in contact with moisture or some other conductor from the outside, for in most of the couplings of this `class the couplings themselves are used as a means of transmitting the positive or negative or both electric currents from one length of hose to the other, and also in the previous devices such variationsin the construction of thecouplings are required as to make it impossible to have thedevices applied to the couplings in-comrnonand general use.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and forming apart of this application, Figure l is a vertical section through lthe male and female members of the coupling, showing my improved device in position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the contact-points. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview, partly in section, showing one set oftapering posts; and Fig. 4 is a perspective'view, partly in section, showing the tapering blocks.

Same letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures. l

In said drawings, A represents the male part, B the female part, of a coupling of ordinary description such as is usually used for coupling lengths of hydraulic hose.

C represents the Iiange, which is usually made rigid with the stationary part of thefemale coupling. Attached to said flange and it appertains to make anduse the i preferably made integral therewith are posts s t Be it known that I, MANsoN C. GOODWIN, a 1 citizen of the United States, residing at Port- D, spaced apart. For the purpose of insuring a ready coupling of the two parts, the ends of said posts may be made tapering, as shown at D. These posts are arranged in pairs, but one pair being shown in the drawings, the pairs being placed approximately opposite each other on said flange C.

E represents a gasket, which may be of leather or rubber, which is usually inserted Within the female member of the coupling and lits closely upon the flange O. On the male part of the coupling are two blocks F, placed substantially opposite each other and of a Width at their lower extremity equivalent to the smallest distance between the posts Dl of the female member of the coupling. The purpose of theseblocks is to serve as a guide for the parts of the coupling when they are put together and also to absolutely insure the bringing the contact-points together when the hose is coupled and to prevent the two parts from sliding one upon the other when the couplings are set up tightly.

Y Situated between the posts D is a contactpoint G. This contact-point consists of a cylindrical-shaped body G, made -of hardened` rubber or some other non-conductor of electricity, provided with a contact-rod H, which rod extends through the insulated cap I of the cylinder, said rod being provided on. its free end with a cap J. Said rod when used in the female-member of the coupling extends up through the gasket E, so' that the cap J on the contact-rod in the male part when the two parts are set up may positively make the desired contact. In the bottom of said insulated cylinder is a metallic block K', driven to a tight fit, in which is an opening L, into which are brought wires L' for conducting the electrical current through a length of hose. In the top of said block is a threaded socket M. Also adapted to be inserted Within said cylinder G is a metallic plate or blockN, provided With a threaded tongue O, which is adapted to be screwed into the threaded socket M tightly upon the free ends of the wires L'. The top of saidblock or plate N has a plurality of upright springs P thereon,which are adapted to bear against the sides ot' the contact-rod II, thus completing the means for carrying a current of electricity from the uprooy per end of .the contact-rod through the contact to the wires in the lower endof the cylinder, the Wires, it'being understood, after leaving the contact beingV covered with some proper insulating material. The cap I ofthe cylinder G is also provided with a raised rim Q, which is adapted when the two parts of the couplings are set up to press into the gasket E, thereby reducing tov an impossibility the ro opportunity of moisture reaching the contactpoints and grounding the current. I have described but one contact; but it is evident that contacts of this same description are necessary for both the male and female members r: of the coupling and also are necessary to be inserted in both sets of the blocks and between both sets of the posts in order to serve as a conductor for both the positive and the negative current'. n

zo Myimproved device can be, if desired, readily attached to couplings already made without materially affecting their construction and at the saine time form the wedge-shaped construction of the blocks and the.tapering bases of the posts, as seen at R and S, respectively. The waterway or open space within the coupling t-hrough which water is designed to be forced is not sufficiently diminished to effect the volume of Water passing there- 3o through. I also provide the members of the coupling with markers T, said markers being placed on the outside of the fixed parts thereof and of such form and size as to be readilydiscovered by aperson desiring to couple lengths of hose, even though it be in the dark. These are so arranged that when the members of the coupling are brought together and these markers are in line the blocks and openings between the posts will be in alinement.

the couplings of which embody my improved device, the two members of the coupling are brought togetherl and placed in such a position that the markers on the outside of the coupling are in alinement and so that the blocks F are over the openings between the double sets of tapering posts D. The object of giving the posts a taper is to allow of leeway when the couplings are brought together,

co so that in casethe block and posts are not in exact alinement at the start they are brought into exact alinement `when the hose is completely coupled. They also prevent-the turning of one member of the coupling on the other or any lateral movement which would tend to allow the contact-points to pass by each other, and thus destroy the transmission of the current from one length of hose to another.

It has been found by experience that where leaf-springs or similar devices are used for v transmitting the current from one member ofthe coupling to the other, although they may be thoroughly insulated from the'coupling itself, the screwing and unscrewing of the members of the coupling breaks thesel `from the spirit of my invention.

When it is desired t`o 4couple lengths of hose springs, and thus destroys the efficiency of the device. From the position of the blocks and posts it will be seen that in coupling hose it will be necessary, in case the two members ofthe coupling are not in such alinement that the block will fit within the post, to give the hose not more than a quarter-turn. This enables the hose supplied with my device to be readily and quickly coupled.

I do not wish to limit myself to the exact mechanical construction of my device as set forth in the drawings and specification, for` the same can be modied without departing i Neither do I claim any means for vrunning the wires from the couplings, any of the well-known means being adapted for use with this device.

Having thus described my invention and its use, I claim- 1. An electric hose-coupling, in combination, male and female members, one provided with blocks, the' other with posts, contactpoints in said blocks and between said posts and means forv surrounding said contactpoints for preventing the grounding of an electric current.

2. In .an electric hose-coupling, in combination, male and female members, the one provided with blocks, the other with tapering posts, vthe distance between said tapering posts at their bases being equal to the greatest width of the tapering block, contacts insulated from the couplings inserted in said blocks and between said posts and means for preventing moisture from reaching said contacts.

3. In an electric hose-coupling, in combination, male and female members, means for preventing said members from having any movement whatever one upon the other, contacts situated in each member and insulated therefrom and means for preventing moisture from reaching said contact-points.

4. In an electric hose-coupling, in combination, vmale and female members provided respectively with means for preventing the slipping of one-part upon the other when being set lu p, contacts in each of said members, said contacts being inclosed in a non-conductive cylinder, the head of said cylinder being provided with a raised rim.

5. In an electric hose-coupling, a contact consisting of a casing of non-conductive material, a cap on the upper end of said cylinder, a contact-rod running through said cap, a spring-contact attached to a conductor, in the bottom of said cylinder and means for IOO iro

bringing a flexible conductor into said casing so that an uninterrupted current may be vmaintained through said cylinder, said cap being provided with a rim on its outer edges.

6. In an electric hose-coupling, in combination, male and female members, a plurality of blocks in the one and vplurality of double posts in the other,- electrical contacts insulated from said members situated in said rim which rim is adapted to sink into a gas ket resting on the ange in the female men1- y ber when the members of the coupling are set np.

l In testimony whereof I aix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of December, 1901.

MANSON C. GOODWIN.

In presence 0f- NATHAN CLIFFORD, ELGIN C. VERRILL. 

